Jay-Z

“I make some thought-provoking shit / Y’all question whether he falling off,” Jay-Z quips at the beginning of “Ignorant Shit,” one of the best tracks on his new album, “American Gangster.” After listening to the album, few will question further, and many will certainly be provoked.

“American Gangster,” Jay’s second album since retirement, rises head and shoulders above its predecessor, “Kingdom Come.” It should renew the faith of rap enthusiasts that the self-proclaimed king of New York can still rule.

It’s a concept album, inspired by the recently released and identically titled Ridley Scott film. Its highs and lows follow the pace of the flick, which chronicles the life and times of big-time Harlem heroin dealer Frank Lucas. The movie apparently inspired Jigga to revisit roots in the drug game and get back to making music geared to the streets.

On this record, Jay is as lyrically brilliant as ever, proving that he has few peers in this area of the rap game. He also breaks into uncharted political territory, dissing radio host Don Imus, George W. Bush, and even Ronald Reagan.

“American Gangster” does get off to a slow start, and it’s definitely back-heavy. The last third of the album–where Diddy’s production crew, the Hitmen, are conspicuously absent–is markedly better than the rest.

“Pray,” the first song and second track of the record, goes right for the jugular. Heavy rhythmic bass, a pulsing melody, shouts, and a distorted guitar accompany Jay’s straightforward, unremitting delivery. The sparking of what is presumably a J at the end of the track blazes the way for the mellifluous and soulful track to follow, “American Dreamin’,” which sends the listener back to the 70s with a Marvin Gaye sample.

“No Hook,” the fifth track on the album, touches on common Jay-Z themes such as his rough childhood, but the track is stripped-down and raw. True to title, it lacks a chorus. The following song, “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...),” fulfills Jigga’s penchant for incorporating at least one triumphal track (regal, blaring trumpets included) into every album.

Following these songs, things die down for a bit. Jay-Z makes a stab at an extended love/drug metaphor akin to 50 Cent’s “A Baltimore Love Thing” in “I Know,” but he doesn’t bring it off as well as Curtis can.

“Ignorant Shit” and the songs that follow turn the tide; the album goes from so-so to worthwhile. Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel join forces over producer Just Blaze’s sped-up sampling of the Isley Brothers’ “Between the Sheets” to rebut the haters who think that hip-hop is ruining America. Two tracks later, Jigga and Nas take ‘em to church on an organ-imbued, lyrically dazzling collaboration detailing the downsides to success.

“Falling,” the final official track of the album, concludes on a fitting if somewhat sad note. “Fight and you’ll never survive / Run and you’ll never escape / So just fall from grace,” raps Jay, pulling the listener down from the highs the album’s middle tracks reach.

Like a spike to the vein, “American Gangster” lulls the listener with its sultry samples, hits a peak, then comes to a shuddering halt. Along the way, Jay-Z taunts, jokes, recollects, and even spits some thought-provoking shit. Most importantly, however, Jay proves that you still can’t knock the hustle.

—Reviewer Joshua J. Kearney can be reached at kearney@fas.harvard.edu.